GENSAC Member Spotlight: Sanja Sumonja

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Read this interview in Serbian.

As part of our ongoing series highlighting the leadership and expertise of our members around the world advancing gender-responsive small arms, GENSAC is honored to feature Inspector Sanja Sumonja, a criminal police inspector from the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Working within a post-conflict context where the legacy of past violence continues to shape security challenges, Sanja brings dedication, professionalism, and a strong commitment to strengthening the role of women in the security sector. Through her work addressing serious crime and promoting the prevention of small-arms misuse, she contributes to building safer, more resilient communities and seeks to inspire future generations of women in law enforcement.

She also serves as President of the Women Police Officers’ Network of the Republic of Srpska, where she supports initiatives to empower women in law enforcement and promote professional development.

Read more about Inspector Sumonja’s journey in her own words below.

What is the goal of your work? And how does it relate to accelerating gender responsive small arms control?

I work as a criminal police inspector on cases of organized and serious crime in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my regular work, I witness firsthand the dangers posed by the abuse of small arms, particularly in cases involving violence against women. There is a large, clear gender disparity in the misuse of firearms, with women disproportionately affected as victims.

In addition to my investigative work, I lead the Women Police Officers’ Network of the Republic of Srpska, a professional association that supports women employed in the Ministry across police ranks and promotes gender equality in security sector institutions. The network was founded in 2011 with the support of the Ministry of Interior management and at the recommendation of the Association of Police Chiefs of Southeast Europe.

Why did you decide to work in this field? What has been your inspiration?

The job of a criminal investigator is a very challenging profession, especially for women who are still underrepresented in the police force. Every case is a new story, requiring new levels of knowledge and new methods of work, which means almost daily work on yourself. The challenge of being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession was my inspiration.

What have been some of the main obstacles you have faced while doing your work? How do you stay motivated and resilient in the face of challenges or setbacks in your work?

One of the most significant challenges has been gaining recognition as an equal partner in a profession historically dominated by men. Even when women demonstrate strong performance and high competence, the effort required to achieve equal acknowledgment is often much greater. Also, it is very challenging to handle family roles with a demanding profession.

I stay motivated through professional achievements and through the encouragement of younger generations who look to follow similar paths. Seeing attitudes slowly shift as a result of these activities and witnessing the impact of our work on institutional culture reinforces my commitment.

What advice would you give to practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders seeking to make a difference in harnessing the leadership of women leaders and allies for small arms control, conflict prevention, violence reduction, and sustainable development?

Women definitely have a significant impact on conflict prevention, violence reduction, and sustainable development. However, their leadership must be consistently and intentionally supported. In my environment, many capable women lack confidence in both themselves and their own abilities. Therefore, in this context, it is most important to work intensively with women, especially young women, to strengthen their capacities and, more importantly, their self-confidence. Empowering young and capable women will lead to their greater participation in social processes, inevitably reducing conflict and violence and fostering greater prosperity in the whole world.

What specific initiatives or strategies are you currently working on that you’re excited about?

A flagship initiative has been working through the Women Police Officers’ Network of the Republic of Srpska, which brings together roughly 500 members and is recognized regionally for promoting gender equality in policing. The Network works on the education and professional training of members, including promoting women’s leadership, representing women’s interests in legislative and organizational processes, combating all forms of violence against women, children, and vulnerable groups, and cooperating with institutions, international organizations, and the civil sector. It has also been recognized internationally for its impact and is connected with broader professional networks of policewomen. In 2021, we were recognized by UN agencies as one of the most active and impactful associations for female police officers in the world.

A very challenging recent activity was a project implemented by the Network that focused on educating young students at the secondary police school on the prevention of small arms and light weapons (SALW) abuse. We are also addressing emerging challenges, including digital violence against women and girls and revenge pornography, which represent growing threats that intersect with our work on broader issues of gender-based violence and security.

How does your regional or local context influence your work on gender and small arms control? Are there unique challenges or opportunities in your region/country that shape your approach?

Working within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina means operating in the post-conflict, institutionally sensitive context of this country. The memory of relatively recent war conflicts is still very painful. A significant number of the population is afraid of conflict, which makes the issue of small arms control even more important than in some other countries that have not had these experiences.

The country also faces structural challenges, including low rates of higher education and the emigration of young, highly educated people seeking greater stability abroad. According to recent Eurostat data, Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the lowest shares of adults with higher education in Europe, with only about 16 percent of the population holding a university degree. This has resulted in a number of young and educated residents leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina in search of a safer place to live and better opportunities.

These facts create additional challenges in working with gender equality and small arms control.